In the first 100 days of Trump's presidency, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, claims to have cut $160 billion in government waste, fraud, and abuse. A significant focus was on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where spending on various projects, including a $20 million 'Sesame Street' initiative in Iraq, was scrutinized. The DOGE initiative also targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, canceling hundreds of grants and saving substantial amounts for the federal government. Efforts to slash spending extended to the Department of Defense, which identified savings in DEI initiatives, and the Environmental Protection Agency, which found $20 billion in waste. These actions, while praised by some, faced legal challenges, including a Maryland judge's ruling on the constitutionality of DOGE's moves at USAID.

DOGE, under Elon Musk, claims to have saved $160 billion in the federal government by targeting wasteful spending, with a focus on USAID's projects, such as the $20 million 'Sesame Street' in Iraq initiative.

Senator Joni Ernst highlighted USAID's questionable expenditures, including funds to a Gaza-based charity and a program in Serbia, as part of DOGE's review, which faced legal challenges but was supported by federal appeals.

DOGE's efforts included eliminating hundreds of DEI contracts, saving $233 million with help from the U.S. National Science Foundation, and targeting similar programs across federal agencies.

The Department of Defense collaborated with DOGE, identifying potential savings by cutting DEI programs, such as a $1.9 million Air Force training initiative and a $6 million university project.

The Environmental Protection Agency, inspired by DOGE, discovered $20 billion in waste, with accusations that the Biden administration was hastily spending taxpayer dollars without oversight, likened to 'tossing gold bars off the Titanic.'

DOGE's initiatives resulted in significant layoffs, with over 280,000 federal workers and contractors affected, as well as a deferred resignation program for 75,000 employees, aimed at long-term savings.

Despite DOGE's controversial measures and significant media scrutiny, the department's work has been praised by some officials for improving government efficiency and reducing unnecessary spending.